Mexico authorities say US man led kidnapping ring

Associated Press

November 11, 2013 - 5:15 PM

MONTERREY, Mexico — Mexican authorities say a U.S. citizen who once served in the U.S. Navy and was a police officer in Texas has been detained in northern Mexico for allegedly heading a group of kidnappers.

Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene said Monday that the man and 15 of his alleged accomplices were detained in the last week.

The U.S. Embassy didn't immediately respond to a request for information.

Domene says investigators have two names for the man and haven't fully identified him. But the spokesman says the suspect served in the Navy and was a police officer in Texas between 1998 and 2009.

Domene says the gang staged the September kidnapping and killing of the father of the mayor of General Zuazua, a town near the industrial city of Monterrey.